The No. 7 LSU men’s golf team did something Sunday it hadn’t done in almost three decades: win the Southeastern Conference Championship.
The Tigers rallied from a three-stroke deficit on the final day to capture the league championship for the first time since 1987 with a score of 13-under-par 827 through 54 holes at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia.
LSU headed into Sunday facing No. 25 Alabama and No. 5 Vanderbilt and trailed each team at different points in the final day. But the Tigers were ultimately more consistent on the back nine to clinch their 16th conference championship.
Sophomore Brandon Pierce bolstered the Tigers on days one and two, shooting a combined 5-under-par 135 that put him in a tie for fourth individually after Saturday. But senior Stewart Jolly delivered the clutch performance LSU needed on day three with a 5-under-par 205, which tied him for fourth place.
Junior Zach Wright finished the tournament tied for sixth at 4-under-par 206, and Pierce ended up tied for ninth with a score of 3-under-par 207.
Entering Sunday, LSU trailed by three strokes only to tournament-leader Alabama. The Tigers were in that position because of a second-round team score of 8-under-par 272, which was a Saturday best.
With a lead of 17-under-par 543 after Saturday’s round, the Tide plummeted into a tie for fourth place after shooting 10-over-par 290 on the final day, closing out the tournament 7-under-par
833.
The Tigers played most of the back nine behind only No. 5 Vanderbilt, which held a one-shot lead against LSU. But as a team, the Commodores struggled in the final four holes, shooting 5 over par, allowing the Tigers to grab the lead.
After Jolly provided an eagle on 15th hole, he, Wright and sophomore Eric Ricard all birdied the 17th hole to aid the Tigers’ 2-under-par performance on the final four holes. Despite bogeys from Ricard and Pierce on the 18th hole, Vanderbilt freshman Theo Humphrey and junior Carson Jacob also bogeyed the final hole, and Vanderbilt junior Zack Jaworski hit a double bogey, giving LSU the three-stroke victory.
In the women’s SEC Championship at the Greystone Country Club’s Legacy Course in Birmingham, Alabama, the No. 4 Lady Tigers were forced to battle inclement weather as they finished seventh with a score of 25-over-par 889 through 54 holes. Despite a final round score of 9-over-par 297, there was a bright spot in their performance.
No. 2 overall senior Madelene Sagstrom finished in third place individually, shooting a 5-under-par 211 for the tournament. Sagstrom propelled herself into the top five with a strong performance in the back nine in the final round, including two birdies and an eagle on the final hole.
No. 12 overall sophomore Caroline Nistrup finished tied for 12th with a 2-over-par 218.
No. 13 Texas A&M secured the overall crown with a score of 13-under-par 851. The Aggies were led by the top two overall finishers of sophomore Bianca Fabrizio (9-under-par 207) and No. 21 overall freshman Maddie Szeryk (7-under-par 209).
The men’s team will find out where it will play in the NCAA Regionals on May 4, while regional announcements for the women’s team will take place on April 27.
You can reach James Bewers on Twitter @JamesBewers_TDR.